Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West CenterWith Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

West Papuan Activist Meets With Administration In GuyanaBenny Wenda seeks support for West Papuan independence

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 3, 2012) – An MP in Guyana says his country is more focused on the plight of Indonesia’s West Papuan people after a visit by an exiled tribal leader.

The UK-based Benny Wenda met with Guyana’s President, various parliamentarians and local communities in his campaign to promote global awareness of the West Papuan independence struggle.

The trip coincided with a call by a former President of the UN Security Council, Guyana’s Rashleigh Jackson, for international support for West Papuan self-determination.

An MP in Guyana’s opposition, Desmond Trotman, says they were impressed by Mr. Wenda’s sincerity and commitment.

He says there’s a lot of agitating Guyana can do on behalf of Papua.’

"Certainly I believe that one of the things the Guyana government can do is that it can sort of push within the United Nations on the need for some course of action which can allow for an early freeing up by the Indonesian government of the West Papuan people."

Indonesian police have reportedly released the chairman of the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, after he was arrested on Saturday during Papua Independence Day commemorations.

Victor Yeimo, was arrested along with two others described by police as fellow activists when demonstrators led by Mr. Yeimo began marching in the Waena area of the Papua provincial capital, Jayapura.

Hundreds of police from the Jayapura municipal police forced the commemorations to be disbanded.

The December 1 commemorations in Jayapura were amongst national mobilizations in most centers across Papua, and solidarity gatherings internationally.